Mobile home lounge

ABSTRACT

A lounge comprises a pair of bench-type seats and backs which may swing to face in either a forward or a rear direction. The seat backs also fold down to form a double bed in cooperation with the seat cushions. The seats are positively locked in each of these three positions. Therefore, if the seat backs are suddenly moved forward, as during an accident, the seats do not unlock, but remain captured in the safety position. Also, the backs of the seats are sturdy devices which protect the driver or occupant in either of the seal positions.

Freedman MOBILE HOME LOUNGE [75] Inventor: Gerald Freedman, Wilmette, 111.

[73] Assignee: Freedman Seating Company,

Evanston, Ill.

[22] Filed: June 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 265,356

[52] US. Cl 297/92, 5/47, 5/211 [51] Int. Cl. A47c U032 [58] Field of Search 297/92, 94, 103; 5/37, 5/47, 48, 211

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,825,846 10/1931 Anderson 297/92 2,059,978 11/1936 Wunderlich 5/47 2,294,475 9/1942 McAllister i 5/47 2,429,260 10/1947 Coopersmith 5/47 2,539,812 l/l951 Carrick 1 5/47 X 2,638,608 5/1953 Garrigus 5/47 X 2,738,829 3/1956 Rowe 297/103 X Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlter Weiss Whitesel & Laff [57] ABSTRACT A lounge comprises a pair of bench-type seats and backs which may swing to face in either a forward or a rear direction. The seat backs also fold down to form a double bed in cooperation with the seat cushions. The seats are positively locked in each of these three positions. Therefore, if the seat backs are suddenly moved forward, as during an accident, the seats do not unlock, but remain captured in the safety position. Also, the backs of the seats are sturdy devices which protect the driver or occupant in either of the seal positions.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures MOBILE HOME LOUNGE This invention relates to mobile home seating arrangements and, more particularly, to convertible lounge seats having many different functions.

Mobile homes have evolved from trailers regularly pulled by automobiles to compact prefabricated houses which are mobile in the sense that they may be transported over highways. Today, a mobile home may also be a truck with a prefabricated houselike body built onto its chassis. Among the common characteristics of these and similar houses" are that space is at a premium and that the equipment should perform as many functions as possible.

The newer type of mobile homes which are built onto truck chassis present additional problems since they move over highways and through traffic. Therefore, these mobile homes must also meet all of the safety requirements for automotive vehicles. With the advent of the new Federal Highway Safety Standards, these requirements become very stringent and difficult to meet. The seating devices in a mobile house or home must not only meet rigid safety standards, but must also continue to perform many functions in a minimum of space and with little or no service required.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide new and improved lounge and seating facilities for mobile homes or houses. In this connection, an object is to provide means in a mobile home for giving multipurpose seating which, nevertheless, meets highway safety standards. Here, an object is to provide (a) seating for four people who may (I) face each other, as over a table, (2) face forward or backward, while the home is in motion, or (b) a bed for two people.

Another object of the invention is to provide mobile home seating which meets or exceeds Federal Highway Safety Standards. More particularly, an object is to provide mobile home seat backs which protect the occupants from heavy objects hurtling through the house and into the back of a seat during accidents or sudden stops. Here, an object is to provide a seat which will not unlatch unexpectedly if the moving home stops suddenly or if the seat is struck by a flying object.

Yet another object of the invention is to accomplish the foregoing objects without requiring either special purpose production machinery or new and novel production techniques.

In keeping with an aspect of this invention, these and other Objects are accomplished by a pair of bench-type seats and backs which may swing to face in either a forward or a rear direction. The seat back cushions also fold down to form a double bed, in cooperation with the seat cushions. Thus, each seat has three distinct positions. The seats are positively locked while in each of these three positions. Therefore, if the seat backs are suddenly moved forward, the positive locking means prevents it from unlocking and holds it captured in a safe position. Also, the backs of the seats are sturdy devices which protect the driver or occupant in any of the seating positions.

The nature of a preferred embodiment for accomplishing thes and other objects is shown in the attached drawings wheren:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive lounge seat;

FIG. 2 shows two of the seats facing in the same direction. For example, the passenger may look out of the windshield while the mobile home is in motion;

FIG. 3 shows the same seats facing each other, as in a breakfast nook arrangement;

FIG. 4 shows the same two seats with the back cushions folded down to thereby form a double bed in cooperation with the seat cushions;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the supporting structure and the seat latching structure;

FIG. 6A is a top plan view of the seat-supporting structure of FIG 5;

FIG. 6B is a top plan view of a cushion support with an arrangement to vary the tension in a no sag spring primarily for the purpose of altering the firmness of a bed as compared to a seat;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the seat-supporting structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation view of the seat-supporting structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the hinge assembly used on the seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the assembled hinge of FIG. 9, taken along line l0-10 thereof;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation assembly of the FIG. 9 hinge assembly showing the seats facing in one direction;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the hinge assembly of FIG. 9 with the seat swung to face in the opposite direction, as compared to the position shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of the same hinge with the seat back folded down to form a double bed, as seen in FIG. 4.

The general nature of the inventive seats should become more apparent from a study of FIG. 1. More particularly, each seat comprises a base or support section 20, a bench-type seat cushion 21, a back cushion 22, a pair of arm rests 23, 24. The base section 20 is anchored to the floor of a mobile home in any suitable fashion, and it is sturdy enough to survive any of the standard impact tests required by Federal Highway Safety Standards.

Each of the seat cushions 21, 22 comprises a rectangular frame 14 (FIG. 6B) or panel having adequate strength to protect the occupant from objects hurled into the seat. Frame or panel 14 supports a molded polyurathane pillow or cushion firmly attached thereto. Any suitable covering or upholstery material may cover the cushions. Preferably, the upholstery will match the decor of the mobile home. Also, the upholstery may be removable for laundering. Suitable no sag springs may or may not be used to support the cushions, according to the need for a firmor soft seat or bed.

To illustrate the three possible seat positions, FIGS. 2-4 show two of the seats with arms'23, 24 removed. Two control knobs 26, 27 are provided on each seat. The control knob 27 is preferably duplicated on both sides of support 20 (eg at 27al, 27a2 in FIG. 2A) so that the seat may be controlled from either side. The control knob 26 enables the seat back to be locked upright for a chair or placed horizontally for a bed. The control knob 27 operates a latch which enables the seat to face in either direction.

For driving, the two seats are positioned to face in one direction (FIG. 2), either forward or reverse. When it is time to eat, knob 27a is rotated on one seat (FIG. 3A) and the entire seat rotates in direction D1. The seat cushion 21a (FIG. 2A) becomes the back cushion in FIG. 3A. Likewise, the back cushion 22a (FIG. 2A) becomes the seat cushion in FIG. 3A.

To make a bed, the knob 26 is operated and the back cushions fold down. FIG. 4 has been drawn with dashed lines to illustrate the seat backs folding down from an initial position wherein the seats were back to back. However, it should be understood that the seats may also be folded down from any initial combination of forward or reverse seating positions.

In one embodiment of the invention, various interchangeable seat cushions may be provided to change the firmness. Thus, soft seat cushions may be provided to give a so-called showroom" automobile type of soft seating, and firm cushions may be provided to give an orthopedically firm bed.

In another embodiment (FIG. 6B), the cushions are supported on a frame 14, having a plurality of no-sag springs extending thereacross. One end of each nosag spring is firmly attached to side 14B of the frame 14. The other end of each no-sag spring is attached to a floating bar 16 which is preferably welded to and held in place by one or more telescoping rods 17. Each telescoping rod 17 comprises a rod 17A having a hollow cylindrical tube 178 slidingly supported thereon. The rod 17A is preferably welded to one side 14A of the frame 14, and the floating bar 16 is preferably welded to the tubes 17B. Tube 178 slides in bearings 14C on the other side 14B of the frame 14. A collar 17C, welded to the tube 173, fixes the minimum length of the telescoping rod 17. An outer end 18 of each rod 17 projects beyond the seat-supporting frame 14. i It should now be apparent that when the seats are upright (FIGS. 2 and 3), the rods 17 have a minimum length fixed by the collars 17C. Hence, each no-sag spring also has a minimum length, thus giving a soft seat cushion.

When the seats are folded down (FIG. 4), the frames 14 of cushions 21, 22, respectively, come together, and the ends 18 of the rods on each seat are pushed by the side of the frame of the other seat. As a result, the floating spring support bar 16 is pushed toward frame side 14A, and the no-sag springs 15 are stretched. This gives the bed a firmer cushion for sleeping.

A series of holes or notches 19 may be formed in each of the tubes 173. Thus, the seat cushions may be folded back to any desirable position; then, a suitable latch may be captured by one of the holes or notches 19. Thereafter, the seat may be returned to the upright sitting position, and the seating will be firmer. For example, if the latch is captured in a hole 19 when the seat and back 21, 22 are in the partly raised positions shown by dash lines (FIG. 4), the cushions will be a little more firm than normal. If the latch is captured when the seat and back are in the horizontal positions shown by solid lines, the springs 15 have maximum length, and the cushions have a maximum firmness. At some intermediate position the latch may be captured with a resulting intermediate degree of firmness. Individual latches may be provided for the individual cushions 21, 22 so that the back has one degree of firmness and the seat has another degree of firmness.

The construction of the base structure may be understood best from a study of FIGS. 5-8. In greater detail, two end assemblies 30, 31 are held in spaced parallel relationship by a plurality of strut members 32-35 which may be attached in any suitable means, as by welding, for example. Each end assembly comprises a pair of vertical posts 36-39 having plates 40, 41 welded to one side and angle irons 42, 43 welded to the other side. This entire framework may or may not be mounted on any suitable pedestal 45 which is adapted at 46 to be bolted to the floor of a mobile home.

A pair of latch members 48, 49 are mounted on the end assembly plates 40, 41. Each latch member comprises a pair of brackets 51, 52 welded to the plates 40, 41. Enclosed by the brackets are bias springs 53, 54 surrounding sliding latch pins 55, 56. A lift bar 57 is positioned over the ends of pins 55, 56 and suitably attached thereto, as by C-washers, for example. The springs 53, 54 normally push the pins 55, 56 in the direction of the angle iron strut 43, and the lift bar 57 pulls the pins 55, 56 away from the strut 43.

Centrally mounted in the frame is a rotatable bar 58 having control knobs 27 mounted on crank arms at opposite ends thereof. A vertical aligned plate 59 is welded to the bar 58 in horizontal alignment with the lift bar 57. As best seen in FIG. 5, flexible cord or chain members 61-64 extend from opposite ends of plate 59 to each of the lift bars 57a, 57b at opposite ends of the frame. Thus, regardless of the direction in which control knob 27 is rotated, one of the flexible members pulls the pins 55, 56 controlled by the lift bars 57a, 57b against the bias of the spring 53, 54.

Seat hinge assembly means are mounted on the plates 40, 41 and controlled by the latch members 48, 49. Two hinge assembly actuator members or pivot arms 67, 68 (FIG. 5) are shown in association with the end assembly 30. While not shown in FIG. 5 (but shown in FIG. 9), a similar hinge assembly is provided in association with the end assembly 31. For easy orientation, the pivot arms corresponding to arms 67, 68 (FIG. 5) are designated 67a, 68a, in FIG. 9.

The major elements in the hinge assembly 49 are the pivot arms 67a, 68a, an outside hinge plate 71, an inside hinge plate 72, a pair of latching rods 73, 74 held in spaced parallel relation by a spacer plate 75 and held in latching position by a lock sring 76.

Each of the pivot arms 67, 68 has a number of mounting holes positioned in a generally arrow-shaped array with bolts 80, 81 passing through holes 82, 83 at the tip of the arrow point for pivotally mounting the arms on the plate 41. The barbs of the arrowheads contain individually associated holes 84-87 for receiving the latch pins 55, 56 (FIG. 6). Thus, for example, when the seat and hinge are in the position shown in FIGS. 2A, 11, and 13, the latch pins 55, 56 pass through the barb holes 84, 86. In the position shown in FIGS. 3A and 12, the pins 55, 56 pass through the barb holes 85, 87.

The outside hinge plate 71 comprises an integral bracket having a seat support arm at one end and a hinge plate mounting section 91 at the other end. The seat frame 14 (FIG. 6B) is attached to arm 90 via two holes 92, 93. The hinge plate mounting section 91 comprises a hole 94 for receiving a pin 95 rigidly attached to the arrow shaft end of the pivot arm 68. Pin 95 passes through hole 94 and fits into a hole 96 in the end 1 of the rod 74. The hinge plate mounting section 91 also supports a rigidly mounted pin 97 passing through a hole 98 in the arrow shaft end of the pivot arm 67, where it is captured by a C-washer 99. A comparison of FIGS. 11 and 12 will quickly show how the outside hinge plate 71 swings through an arc of about 90 as the arms 67, 68 swing on pivot points 80, 81 between left and right positions, thereby raising and lowering the seat cushion attached to the arm 90.

The latching rods 73, 74 terminate in a pin 100 and the hole 96, respectively. Since the frame 20 (FIG. 5) fixes the longitudinal displacement between the hinge assemblies, shafts 73, 74 are captured by the pin 95 fitting into the hole 96 and by the pin 100 fitting through an arcuate slot 101. Rod 74 acts as a hinge pin for the frames of the seat cushions 21, 22. Rod 73 acts under the urging of the spring 76 as a latch fitting in a keeper notch 103 on the inside hinge plate 72. The relative motions between these various parts will become apparent by a comparision of FIGS. 11 and 12.

The inside hinge plate 72 also has a seat support arm section 110, having seat frame mounting holes 111, 112 therein, and a hinge plate mounting section 113. An upstanding pin 114 is welded or otherwise fastened to the mount section 113. Pin 114 passes through a hole 115 on the inside hinge plate 71 where it is captured by a C-Washer 116.

As long as the rod 73 is held latched in the notch 103, the hinge may rotate between the positions shown in FIGS. 11, 12. When the control knob 26 (FIGS. 2-4) is pulled, rod 74 rotates about the axis of pin 95. The latch rod 73 moves against the bias of the spring 76 and out of the notch 103. Then, the inside hinge plate 72 may rotate about the axis of pin 114 as it turns in the bearing hole 115.

The operation of the seat should be apparent from a study and comparison of FIGS. 2-4 and l1-13. FIG. 2A shows the seat in the same position as the hinge is shown in FIG. 11. Pins 56, 55 project through the holes 84, 86 in the barbs of the arrow-shaped plates 68, 67, respectively.

If either of the knobs 2701 or 27a2 (FIG. 2A0 is rotated, either flexible members 62, 63 or 61, 64 are pulled (depending upon the direction of rotation). The lift bars 57a, 57b (FIG. 6) are pulled by the flexible members, and pins 56, 55 are lifted out of the holes 84, 86, rspectively. The seat 21a is lifted. Hinge plates 71, 72 pivot on the axis formed by the pins 95, 97. The seat swings to the oppositely facing position shown in FIGS. 4A and 12.

If any heavy object should be hurled into the back 22a (FIG. 11) or 21a (FIG. 12), the seat back cannot move because the pull of spring 76 captures the rod 73 in the notch 103, thereby immobilizing the hinge plates 71, 72 with respect to each other. This is unlike some other seats where the latch is such that if the seat back is moved forward, it unlatches and then may be folded down. If that type of hinge is struck by a flying object, the seat falls down.

When it is time to make a bed, the knob 260 (FIG. 4A) is rotated, and the rod 73 is pulled out of notch 103 (FIG. The pin 100 moves through arcuate slot 101 to limit the distance over which knob 26a can move. The hinge plates 71, 72 are no longer connected together, and both of the cushions 21a, 22a fold down, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 13.

While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, it should be understood that many modifications may be made therein. Accordingly, the appended claims should be construed to cover all equivalents falling within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A mobile lounge seat comprising seat and back cushions supported by a seat base anchored to the floor of a vehicular body, a pair of oppositely disposed hinge means pivotally mounted on opposite ends of said seat base for selectively positioning said seat and back in either a forward facing or a reverse facing position, responsive solely to the pivoting of said hinge means, latch means including an actuating bar extending traversely across said seat base substantially midway between said ends of said seat base and substantially perpendicular to the axis of pivot of said hinges, means associated with each of the opposite ends of said bar for commonly controlling said latch means from at least two different locations on opposite sides of said seat base for positively locking both of said pair of hinge means to said seat base when said cushions are in a seat position so that said seat may not accidentally move out of a selected position, hinge plates mounting said seat and back cushions on said hinge means, latch means for selectively immobilizing said plates with respect to each other whereby said cushions may be held in a seat position or allowed to move to a horizontal bed position, and protection frame means connected to said hinge plates for supporting the back of said cushions and for protecting an occupant of said seat from objects hurled into the back of said seat.

2. The lounge of claim 1 wherein said cushions are bench-type seat cushions, said hinge means beingmounted on said seat base to interchange the positions of said seat and back cushions without changing the angular relationship between said cushions, and said 'common controlling means comprises a pair of handles at the ends of said bar, each of said handles being located in the under the knees area at about the center of each seat, with one handle on each of the opposite sides of said seat.

3. The lounge of claim 1 wherein there are at least two of said hinge plates having several interconnecting points which pivot about fixed points at their mounting and at all other of said interconnecting points with re spect to each other when said seat is placed in said bed position, said hinge plate members being pivoted to swing between said forward and reverse positions, and said latch means capturing said hinge means on said seat base in either said forward or said reverse positions.

4. The seat of claim 1 and spring means stretched across said frame means for supporting said cushions, and means for altering the tension of said spring means to vary the firmness of said cushion.

5. The seat of claim 4 and means for automatically increasing the tension of said spring means'responsive to the placing of said seat and back cushions in said bed position.

6. The seat of claim 5 and means for individually holding a pre-selected tension in the springs supporting said seat and back cushions when said seat is in a seat position.

7. The seat of claim 1 wherein said cushions are interchangeable and replaceable on said protection frame, whereby the firmness of said seat and back may be changed by replacing cushions.

8. A mobile lounge seat comprising seat and back frame support means, hinge assembly means comprising inside and outside hinge plates pivotally connected to each other, latch means for selectively immobilizing said hinge plates, with respect to each other, a pair of means including pivot arms for selectively swinging and moving said latched hinge plates between forward and reverse positions, each of said hinge assemblies including pivot arms having a plurality of holes positioned in a generally arrow-shaped array, means for pivotally mounting each of said arms at the hole at the tip of the arrow-shaped array, means for selectively latching said pivot arms in the holes at the barbs of the arrow-shaped array, and means for pivotally attaching said hinge plates in a hole at the end of the shaft in said arrowshaped array.

9. The seat of claim 8 and a frame for supporting said lounge seat, there being a hinge assembly at either end of said frame, latch means including a shaft rotatably positioned on said frame perpendicular to a line extending between said hinge assemblies, a plurality of pin means fitting through said barb holes for immobilizing said pivot arms, and means responsive to a rotation of said shaft in either of two directions for selectively withdrawing and inserting said pin means in said barb holes.

10. The seat of claim 8 and spring means stretched across said frame support means for supporting cushions mounted on said frame, and means for altering the tension of said spring means to vary the firmness of said cushions. 

1. A mobile lounge seat comprising seat and back cushions supported by a seat base anchored to the floor of a vehicular body, a pair of oppositely disposed hinge means pivotally mounted on opposite ends of said seat base for selectively positioning said seat and back in either a forward facing or a reverse facing position, responsive solely to the pivoting of said hinge means, latch means including an actuating bar extending traversely across said seat base substantially midway between said ends of said seat base and substantially perpendicular to the axis of pivot of said hinges, means associated with each of the opposite ends of said bar for commonly controlling said latch means from at least two different locations on opposite sides of said seat base for positively locking both of said pair of hinge means to said seat base when said cushions are in a seat position so that said seat may not accidentally move out of a selected position, hinge plates mounting said seat and back cushions on said hinge means, latch means for selectively immobilizing said plates with respect to each other whereby said cushions may be held in a seat position or allowed to move to a horizontal bed position, and protection frame means connected to said hinge plates for supporting the back of said cushions and for protecting an occupant of said seat from objects hurled into the back of said seat.
 2. The lounge of claim 1 wherein said cushions are bench-type seat cushions, said hinge means being mounted on said seat base to iNterchange the positions of said seat and back cushions without changing the angular relationship between said cushions, and said common controlling means comprises a pair of handles at the ends of said bar, each of said handles being located in the under the knees area at about the center of each seat, with one handle on each of the opposite sides of said seat.
 3. The lounge of claim 1 wherein there are at least two of said hinge plates having several interconnecting points which pivot about fixed points at their mounting and at all other of said interconnecting points with respect to each other when said seat is placed in said bed position, said hinge plate members being pivoted to swing between said forward and reverse positions, and said latch means capturing said hinge means on said seat base in either said forward or said reverse positions.
 4. The seat of claim 1 and spring means stretched across said frame means for supporting said cushions, and means for altering the tension of said spring means to vary the firmness of said cushion.
 5. The seat of claim 4 and means for automatically increasing the tension of said spring means responsive to the placing of said seat and back cushions in said bed position.
 6. The seat of claim 5 and means for individually holding a pre-selected tension in the springs supporting said seat and back cushions when said seat is in a seat position.
 7. The seat of claim 1 wherein said cushions are interchangeable and replaceable on said protection frame, whereby the firmness of said seat and back may be changed by replacing cushions.
 8. A mobile lounge seat comprising seat and back frame support means, hinge assembly means comprising inside and outside hinge plates pivotally connected to each other, latch means for selectively immobilizing said hinge plates, with respect to each other, a pair of means including pivot arms for selectively swinging and moving said latched hinge plates between forward and reverse positions, each of said hinge assemblies including pivot arms having a plurality of holes positioned in a generally arrow-shaped array, means for pivotally mounting each of said arms at the hole at the tip of the arrow-shaped array, means for selectively latching said pivot arms in the holes at the barbs of the arrow-shaped array, and means for pivotally attaching said hinge plates in a hole at the end of the shaft in said arrow-shaped array.
 9. The seat of claim 8 and a frame for supporting said lounge seat, there being a hinge assembly at either end of said frame, latch means including a shaft rotatably positioned on said frame perpendicular to a line extending between said hinge assemblies, a plurality of pin means fitting through said barb holes for immobilizing said pivot arms, and means responsive to a rotation of said shaft in either of two directions for selectively withdrawing and inserting said pin means in said barb holes.
 10. The seat of claim 8 and spring means stretched across said frame support means for supporting cushions mounted on said frame, and means for altering the tension of said spring means to vary the firmness of said cushions. 